New York Injury Talk Blog

Drowning is a risk around any body of water, even small containers like buckets. When water is part of summer fun, like visiting beaches and swimming pools, the risks of drowning increase.

New York is home to over 7,400 public swimming pools and 1,300 public beaches, according to the New York Department of Health. Thousands of private swimming pools and beaches also have visitors every year. Operators of public swimming pools and public beaches are required to report any accident that results in a death, requires CPR to be performed, requires the injured person to be sent to a hospital or doctor’s office for treatment, or involves a water-borne illness.

Despite the high number of public pools and beaches in the state, New York’s rates of drowning injuries and death at public beaches and pools is much lower than those at private pools and beaches. While a risk of drowning is always present, public beaches and pools are often better-regulated, which helps reduce the risk and allows everyone visiting to enjoy a safe and fun time. Public beaches and pools average just over seven drowning incidents each year in New York, in contrast to private beaches and pools, which average more than 100 drowning incidents each year.

Drowning or near-drowning can cause death and serious injuries, including permanent disabling brain injuries. At Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro & Halperin, our trained New York drowning accident lawyers are dedicated to helping injured people and their families understand what happened and get the compensation they need to heal. Call our law offices for a consultation on your case at (212) 222-4336.

The recent onset of unseasonably warm weather has brought New Yorkers all over the state outdoors to enjoy the warm air, sunshine, and the waterfront. Whether you’re on the lake, ocean, or a swimming pool, it’s important to remember that drowning is always a risk, even if you or your children can swim. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers the following tips for helping protect those you love from injury or death in the water.

• Use fences and gates. Fences and gates can prevent children, especially small ones, from wandering into the pool area and suffering a fall, drowning, or other injury. Install fences so they encircle the pool entirely, and make sure gates are fastened or locked in a way that children cannot open them without adult assistance and supervision.
• Use PFDs. PFDs, or personal floatation devices, save lives when you and your children are out on a boat or at the beach or pool. Require them for anyone who cannot swim and for everyone in a natural body of water, even if they have swimming skills.
• Learn CPR. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can save a life in the case of a near-drowning, heart attack, or other emergency. Learn CPR and keep your certification current. A basic First Aid class can also be invaluable.
• Supervise. Children in or near any body of water – even one as small as the family bathtub – should be supervised at all times by an adult whose only responsibility is to watch the kids.

At Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro & Halperin, our well-trained New York drowning injury attorneys have helped many families seek compensation after an accident, defective product, or other case of negligence caused injury. To discuss your drowning or water-related accident with us, call our office today at (212) 222-4336 for a free and confidential consultation.

Two young men have drowned at a Staten Island public pool, according to a story by The New York Daily News. The young men were practicing breath-holding exercises that are similar to techniques used in military training. One of the men was training to be a Navy SEAL while the other was a life guard at a pool in another area. The families of the men were surprised at the drowning because both men were competent swimmers. The men were found unconscious by pool life guards in about three feet of water and pulled from the pool. They were then taken to a local hospital. One of the two men died the same day while the other died after being in a coma for several days.

According to Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) statistics, there have been 48 drownings and 75 near-drowning incidents in 35 states in the U.S. between Memorial Day and the end of June this year. The CPSC is encouraging people to be vigilant near the water and observe safety rules to prevent drowning accidents.

Even when there is life guard on duty and a person is a good swimmer, accidents can still happen. Pool owners and operators have a responsibility to provide adequate safety measures and do all they can to prevent tragedies from occurring. If they do not, they can be held accountable for an injury or death that occurs on the premises. If you or a loved one has been involved in a drowning or near-drowning incident, you may be entitled to compensation. Call the Staten Island drowning accident lawyers at Wingate, Rusotti & Shapiro, LLP at 212-986-7353 for a free consultation today.

On June 22, 2010 a New York sixth grader tragically drowned on a school field trip to a Long Island beach. Although the student did not know how to swim, she was allowed to go in the water where she was caught in a riptide and drowned. Posted signs warned that there was no lifeguard on duty that day and the group of 24 students was being supervised by only three adults, just one of whom was a certificated teacher at the school.

In response to the unfortunate incident, The New York Times reports that the city launched an investigation and now, one year later, the New York City schools chancellor has issued new regulations regarding field trips. Chancellor Dennis M. Walcott wanted to tighten the rules saying that, “While we can never change history, we can take action to prevent future tragedies”.

The new regulations require that four adults are present on school trips that involve swimming and that a lifeguard is on duty. In addition, students must wear life vests when participating in school-related water activities, including boating and tubing. As an added measure, the school involved in the incident is now testing all students for swimming competency at the beginning of the school year and offering lessons to those that need them. Another proviso in the new regulations is that permission slips must be issued for every trip and any risks must be disclosed to parents.

As the weather warms up and end-of-the-year field trips approach, it is important to keep swimming safety in mind. If you or your loved one has been injured in a New York near-drowning accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Call the New York swimming pool accident lawyers at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro for a free consultation at 1-212-222-4336.

The summer months have hardly begun but the statistics related to drowning and near-drowning incidents released by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are staggering. In the first five months of 2011, there have already been 55 drowning and 63 near-drowning incidents across 29 U.S. states and territories. Even more disturbing is the news that in each year from 2006-2008, there were an estimated average of 383 pool and spa-related drownings for children younger than 15, 76 percent of which were children under the age of five. CPSC Chairman Inez M. Tenenbaum and U.S. Olympic swimmer Janet Evans held a press conference to remind parents and children to be careful in and around pools and spas this swimming season. Chairman Tenenbaum reminds the public that “the number of drownings and near-drownings involving children under five [is] still a serious public health issue”.

Recently, the CPSC announced a recall of roughly 1 million pool and in-ground spa drain covers that pose an entrapment risk. These drain covers were not rated to accommodate the flow of water through the cover, causing too much suction and creating a situation where swimmers, especially young children who are not strong swimmers, may become stuck and be at risk of drowning. While no drownings or injuries have been reported in connection with the recalled pool drain covers, it serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance in and around pools and spas.

A pool or spa-related accident is a traumatic incident for all involved. If you or a loved one has been involved in such an incident, the owner or manager of the pool may be legally responsible. Call the New York drowning accident attorneys at Wingate, Rusotti and Shapiro at 212-222-4336 for a free consultation.